Dismay as vandals target lights

Police investigating recent acts of vandalism as residents call for more CCTV cameras

Community leaders in Blairgowrie have hit out at vandals who tore down the town’s Christmas lights just hours after they were strung up.

Police are investigating the attack in the Wellmeadow, which follows months of damage across the town centre.

Benches have been wrecked, the town’s well has been targeted and graffiti has been sprawled across landmarks.

Now locals are calling for more CCTV cameras for the centre of Blairgowrie in an effort to stamp out the problems.

The Christmas lights had only just gone up after Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council joined forces with Perth and Kinross Council to raise the necessary funds.

A statement by the community council called on those responsible to stop ruining the efforts of those who are trying to improve the town.

It said: “The community council, along with Councillor Caroline Shiers, have been working really hard with the council to find the money to replace the small tree lights in the Wellmeadow.

“They light up the place and make it look amazing. They also help cut down on the noise in the town centre because neds don’t seem to want to linger in illuminated places, but even as these lights are in the process of going up the junction boxes and strings of lights are being broken or ripped down.”

“Blairgowrie is a nice place, with lots of people who want it to stay that way, who volunteer their time and energy to make it a lovely place to live and work in.

“If you don’t want to be part of that, that’s fine, but don’t keep hampering the hard work of those who do.”

The community council has refused to be deterred and an official switch-on is still planned for the end of the month.

Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers said she was dismayed to learn of the damage.

She said: “I am so disappointed to hear from the council officers working on this project that there has been vandalism of the lights.

“They are being installed to bring some much needed light and vibrancy to the Wellmeadow through the winter months.

“We are working to improve the centre of the town in the evenings – with many pubs and eating places in the Wellmeadow area it is a real boost to have it look attractive in the evening.

“I hope that the individuals involved in the vandalism will be identified and that there will be no repeats of this mindless act.

“I would ask the community to ensure that any anti-social behaviour is reported to the police and hopefully the lights will be left alone so they can be enjoyed over the coming months.”

Police Scotland said officers were aware of issues of youth disturbance in the town and local teams were investigating.

mmackay@thecourier.co.uk

Picture: Steve Macdougall. The vandals tore down some of the new Christmas lights that had been put up on trees in the Wellmeadow. The Community Council intends to go ahead with the switch on at the end of this month.

Councillor Caroline Shiers was dismayed to learn of the damage to the lights.